Purpose of competition: To identify and encourage retailers who offer a retail experience that has achieved retail success

Purpose of competition: To identify and encourage retailers who offer a retail experience that has achieved retail success

Judging criteria: Degree of innovation via the product offering; marketing and image within the local community; exceptional levels of customer service; retail managerial and leadership excellence; financial performance including sales and gross profit.

Shortlist

Bells Stores (Winner) This company started trading in 1968 when local milkman Les Bell opened a shop in Guisborough.

Over the last 14 years it has evolved from a newsagents and tobacconists into a convenience store chain.

Its distribution and head office operations at Skelton service a network of 48 stores.

The company employs 768 people - 637 in its stores, 34 in warehouse and distribution, and 97 at head office.

Its community focus means its stores are open every day - apart from Christmas Day - from 6am to 11pm.

Bells has plans to open at least another 21 stores over the next four years.

Customer surveys have put the friendliness of Bells staff as the top factor in them deciding to shop at this chain.

This was followed by quick service, acceptable prices, product availability and range, and its fresh food.

Chipsworld There are three strings to the bow of the Chipsworld operation.

It has six company-owned stores in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar, Northallerton, Sunderland and Darlington.

There is a franchise arm which allows someone to establish a venture as their own business under the Chipsworld banner - with this type of outlet having opened in Bishop Auckland, Skipton, and Stafford.

In September 1999 it launched an e-commerce site - www.chipsworld.co.uk

The Chips partnership was formed in 1985 by Don McCabe and Nik Agar with a #7,000 loan.

Seven years later it was taken over by another company, but 18 months down the line ran into difficulties and the men were handed back the leases on five empty stores.

They had no stock, money and mounting debts.

But through hard work, determination, and staff agreeing to work for a period with no wages, the business has been rebuilt.

Race for furniture This furniture company has come a long way since it was founded in 1920.

Today it employs 38 full-time staff and has four divisions under its wing.

One is based in Middlesbrough and three at Portrack Lane Stockton

The businesses are:

* Race for Furniture sells middle to top range furniture including suites, sofa beds, dining and bedroom furniture, beds and chairs, from the site of the original business in Middlesbrough.

* The Pine Warehouse specialises in pine and cane furniture.

* Home Interiors sells suites, dining and bedroom furniture of a more contemporary nature, along with accessories from around the world.

* Giftbox focuses on finishing touches for the home, with goods such as pictures, mirrors, clocks, lamps, ornaments, glassware, artificial flowers, and rugs.

A key expansion and development of the business in 2001 was the relocation of five warehouses and its head office to a single site just off Portrack Lane.